Description
Succulent beef meatballs glazed with a sticky, umami-sweet Korean sauce and a tangy, spicy mayo fusion. Achieve charred exteriors and juicy centers with this restaurant-worthy recipe combining BBQ techniques with Korean flair. Double sauce ensures flavor on every bite.
Ingredients
Ground beef 80/20 – 1 lb (450 g)
Panko breadcrumbs (gluten-free optional) – ½ cup
Garlic – 5 cloves, minced
Ginger – 1 tbsp, grated
Egg – 1 large
Gochujang – 2 tbsp
Soy sauce – 2 tbsp
Sesame oil – 1 tbsp
Brown sugar – 3 tbsp
Cornstarch – 1 tbsp
Water – 2 tbsp
Mayonnaise (non-alcoholic optional clear type) – ½ cup
Sriracha – 1 tsp
White vinegar – 1 tbsp
Sesame seeds – 1 tbsp, toasted
Green onions – 1 small bunch, sliced
Instructions
Mince garlic and ginger using microplane grater
Thinly slice green onions for garnish
Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water for slurry
In bowl, combine beef, panko, egg, garlic, ginger, gochujang, soy sauce, sesame oil, and brown sugar
Mix briefly (20–30 rotations)
Portion into 1-inch balls using ice cream scooper
Heat skillet to medium-high until shimmering
Cook meatballs in batches 4–5 mins per side for charring
After first flip, add 1 tbsp soy sauce + 2 tbsp water to pan
Transfer meatballs to plate, add remaining soy sauce + water to pan
Pour cornstarch slurry into pan and cook until sauce reduces and thickens
Whisk together mayonnaise, sriracha, and white vinegar for Spicy Mayo
Drizzle meatballs with sauce and serve with zus mayo
Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds at serving
Notes
Use room-temperature beef for even mixing
Maintain pan temperature similar to scallop cooking (hissing but not smoking)
Only reheat in oven (350°F for 10 mins) to preserve sauce
Halal-friendly mayonnaise works well as direct substitute
Adjust gochujang quantity/quality if you prefer DIY sauce blend
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 15
- Method: Pan-frying
- Cuisine: Korean-Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (5-6 meatballs)
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg